Method of and apparatus for producing flexible bearing blocks



NOV 10, 1931.- THIRY 1,830,814l METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING FLEXIBLE BEARING BLOCKS Filed April 24, 1930 z g2g;- im 5 if Patented Nov. 10, 1931 UNITED STATES LEON rauw, or nur, ennemi IETHOD l' AND APPARATUS IOR PBODUUING BEARING BLOCKS Application nled April 24, 1980, Serial lo. 448,988, and in France April 86, 1929.

A. This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for produci exible bearing blocks suitable for use as xed supports or as joints between relatively movable elements. The invention has. particular reference to a method of connecting two elements arranged one within the other by means of a third element, namely, an elastic substance interposed between the two first elements, thev elastic substance having been first deformed with respect to its initial dimensions.

Briefly, the invention com rehends a condition in the manufacture o bearing blocks of this character, wherein a deformation of f5 the elastic substance is produced by means of ly applicable as pivot or swivel joints, in the latter case the elongation of the elastic substance is effected in the direction ofthe axis of oscillation.

The two nested elements, mentioned in the foregoing paragraphs, may be constructed of any mater1a1, but 1s preferable that they be of metal. yThe transverse section of the space between the two metal elements occupied by the intermediate elastic substance may take any form or dimension; however, it has been found that a circular formation is preferable. As to the longitudinal section of the intervening space and its elastic element, it too may b e of almost any desired formation although a cylindrical or conical shape is the most desirable.

'I carry out my improved methodof producing resilient bearing blocks by means of a plurality of steps w ich, in practice, are

ter being obtained by compressing or pressingv performedfby a type of a paratus. of which several embodiments are i ustratively exemplified in the accompanying drawings.

. Before proceeding with a description of the apparatusly means of which the invention 1s practi l it should be explained as a matter of information that at the time of the elongation of the elastic material caused by the compression thereof, its deformation takes place in a-space of decreasin section and the natural resistance, being o ered by the material to' these displacements while being -guided in the direction of the decreasing section, is completed by a resistance which may be termed supplementary. In accordo0 ance with this invention, this supplementary resistance may be effected in various ways,

namely, by thrust; by the pressure of a liquid drawings.

Referrin to the drawings, Figure 1 is a substantial y longitudinal sectional view of an apparatus for effecting an assembly of the inner element within the outer element 1n- 8( which the elastic substance has already been arranged; Figure 2 is a substantially longtudinal sectional view of an apparatus or assembling the inner element carryingv the elastic connecting substance within the outer 8! element; Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectlonal view of the step which involves the assembly of the elasticsubstance within the outer element prior to the performance of the complete assembly shown in `-Figure 1; and 9' Figure 4 is a substantially longitudinal sectional view of a means for eectlng in a smgle operation the steps practiced separately in shell are closely adhered together by means of friction. The inner member 3 is then "inserted in the sleeve 4 and the step is carried out by placing a cone-shaped tip or punch l5 on the end of the inner memberV so that when the latter and the tip 5 are driven into the elastic sleeve 4 in the direction of the arrow X, there will occur an elongation of the sleeve which, unable to compress any further, will extend longitudinally along the outer shell 2 until it hasvreached a length where its bore admits the inner member 3. The inner member 3 is virtually a tube and the tip 5 is held in position by a shank 5 which fits in the bore of the tube. The space limited by the interior surface of the element 2 and by the contour of punch 5, shows normally in the direction of the sinking, some decreasing sections in a direction opposite to that of the center punch. During the elongation, the material of the sleeve 4 could, without the intervention of -supplementar devices, expand in both directions, althoug the natural resistance, due to the shape of the space, is larger for the movement against the conicity of the punch. In accordance with the invention, the expansion in the direction opposite to the direction of the arrow X is prevented by the suiiicient conicity of the punch 5. Also in accordance with the invention and in order to add an additional resistance to the expansion 'to- Ward the decreasing part, an annular part 6, hollowed at the outer diameter of member 3, is made integral with the element 2 by means of hooks 2a connected with the member 2 and capable of maintaining the part 6 in its position, in spite of the pressing from within the sleeve 4. As a result, the expansion of the sleeve 4 in the direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow X, is stopped, beginnin from a point selected at will and in accor ance with the form given to the part 6.

In accordance with Figure 2 the sleeve 4 which has previously been set Von the position A in member 3 and is adhering more or less strongly to it, is introduced by force into the element 2 by means of a part 7, which takes the form of va funnel. The free space between the internal face of the part 7 and the contour of part 3 offers, in the direction of displacement of the part 3, towards its final position, decreasing sections. In order to prevent any sliding of the sleeve 4.on the mner element 3 a pressure of gas or li uid may be utilized in the chamber 3a provi ed, for this purpose, with conduit 3. Part 3 is pushed by means of a piston 3b traveling through a proper packing in the end of the cylinder 3a. During the elongation produced b the displacement of member 3 and of the s eeve 4, in the .direction of the arrow Y, the'material of the sleeve can expand more easily toward the rear than toward the front. In order to add an additional resistance to the expansion of the sleeve toward the front, in accordance with the invention, an annular part 8 is made integral, temporaril with the part 3 at a point located in ront o the sleeve and with respect to the direction of the arrow Y. It'will be clear that this part 8 will play a similar rle tothat of art 6 in Figure 1. Possibly an identical e ect to that of the thrust parts 6 and 8 producing t-he additional resistance,could be realized by the action of a deformable body, the deformation of which will be limited, for example by its play, in a controllable volume capacity.

In Figure 2, for example, one can, by means of a conduit 1l, connect the inner Volume limited b member 2, part 7 and wall 9, against w ich rests the said member 2, with a tank, not shown in the drawings, of controllable volume and containing a iuid, the compression of which may increase during the throw of member 3 and of sleeve 4, up to a certain determined extent, in order to prevent, vstarting from a certain point, the expansion of the matter of sleeve 4 in the`directtion of the arrow Y.

Figure 3 concerns the application of the process of the vention to the phase of manufacture by which the sleeve 4 is introduced in the member 2, prior to the operation of elongation, of which Figure 1 represents one phase. In accordance with this, Figure 3 shows a member 12, acting in the manner of a piston or plunger, which is able to compress the sleeve 4 in part 7 in order to introduce the sleeve into part 2. v

In order to 've the invention a practical form, the mein er 12 ends at its forward end in a art 12l having the shape of a cone, the openmg thereof being larger than that of the cone formed by the internal surface of the part 7. Thus the limited s ace between part 12u and the internal face o part 7 shows decreasing sections along the inverse direction of arrow Z.

As the sleeve 4 displacement of t e member 12, in the direction of the arrow Z, the sleeve 4 expands freely in the direction of this arrow, but it encounters, in the inverse direction, a certain resistance d ue to the decrease of the cubic area ibetween part 12'L and part 7. In acplunges into the part 7 by museau.

- ,additionalf'iieistanca the part of the member $12,'l`to which 'art`12 is connected, constitutes a shoulder w ich revents the expansion of the sleeve toward t e /rear and counter to the direction of the arro'w Z.

In the device shown in Figure 4, the introduction of a sleeve 4 into the element 2, is accomplished by'elo ation of the latter and the introduction of e ement 3 in a single operation. The socket 5 of punch 5 is inserted intothe end of part 3, and the. latter at its front end is provided with a part 5b similar in shape and purpose with that of part 12 of member 12 in Figure 3.

A tubular member 13 serving as a 4housing for the tube 3 and punch 5 is ro'ected along with them simultaneously wit t e displacement, in the direction of arrow Z, of the plunger 14. The housing 13 is made rigid with the lunger 14 through a notch ,14 therein and the nose 15* at the end of one of the arms of a double lever 15 pivoted on the housing 13. The housing 13 is provided with a shoulder 13* which, with respect to part 5" of the punch 5n has the same purpose in view as that of the shoulder of the member 12 with respect to the part 12 in Figure 3. Beginning with acertain point in 'the travel off plunger 14, the cam follower end of the second arm 15" of the lever 15, encounters a stationarypartofacam7 which is integral with part 7, and which projects downwardly to cause the complete disengagement of the nose 15* from the notch 14; thus bringing about a disconnection between part 13 and part 14.

1, holds with respect to e ement 2.

The continued advance of notch 14* in the direction of the arrow Z, causes by the displacement of part 2 and of punch 5, the elongation of the sleeve 4 in accordance with what has been stated with regard to Fi re 1, the disengagement of the nose 15 o the lever 15 taking place simultaneously with the part 13 of flange 13 occupying with respect to element 2, the same position as art 6 of Fi lile flange 13 is locked in this position in order to resist th'e stresses due to the expansion of the elastic sleeve 4.

In lorder to carry out the locking operation, the" action of the cam 7 a ainst the end 15" of lever 15, causes a projecting part 15'l of the latter to engage in a notch 7l cut in the projection of part 7. As a consequence, any displacement of part 13 in the direction inverse to thatof arrow Z, tending to cause-lever 15 to pivot in counter clockwise direction, is prevented because of the thrust against the part 13 at the end of arm 15" of the lever 15. The disengagement of the rejection 15l after the o ration is terminate can, for example, be e ected by a pivoting part 13 around the axis of punch 5.

Having now described my inventionand the manner in which the what I claim as new and Letters Patent is:

1. The herein described method of eiecting a connection between two elements, which consists in compressing an elastic substance to thereby elongate it andinterposing the substance between the two elements `in the presence of a supplementary resisting substance exerting its pressure against the ends same is practiced, desire to secure by of the compressed elastic substance and under ,conditions which cause an initial displacement of the elastic substance longitudinally through a tapering path.

2. The herein described method of effecting a connection between two sleeves, which consists in compressing an elastic substance to thereby elongate it into frictional engagement with one of the sleeves, supplyin a displaceable cushion at opposite ends o the elastic substance, and thereafter introducing the elastic substance through a tapered space leading to the other sleeve while displacing said cushions to control deformation of the elastic substance in a longitudinal direction.

3. A device for forming a joint consisting of two elements disposed and an elastic substance interposed between the two elements, comprising a cone shaped guide through which the elastic substance projects to enter one of the elements and a tapered end for the other element to lead the latter into the elastic substance, and lmeans abutting the elastic substance and in which one within the other the tapered end and second element are projected towards and into the elastic substance with the movement of the means to roject the substance through the cone shaped) guide and into the first element.

4. Adevice for forming a joint, as claimed in claim 3, including means for locking the last means to move with the second element a predetermined distance towards the vfirst element to introduce the elastic substance into the first element, and means for releasing said locking means to allow the second element to continueits movement into the elastic substance in the first element.

5. A device for assembling an elastic substance, which has been compressed and isv consequently under elongation, between an inner and an outer element to form a joint, a cone shaped guide directing its smaller end into the outer element, a block having a chamber and passage opening into the outer element and containing a substance displaceable under movement of the elastic substance towards and into the outer element, a jacket forming a continuation of the larger end of the cone shaped guide and being supplied with a substance under pressure directed against the trailing end of the elastic substance Which is compressed and in stretched condition about the inner element, and a plunger fitting the trailing end of the inner element and guided into the acket to displace the elastic substance along the. cone shaped guide and into the outer element with the movement of the compressed substance in the block and jacket.

6. A device for assembling an elastic substance in a joint as' claimed in cli'm 5, in

' which the leading end of the innelfelement is provided with a, temporary head torestrain the elastic substance from being projected o of the inner element. In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

LEON THIRY. 

